2015 Year in Review

As another year comes to an end, we’re reminded just how much we have to be grateful for in 2015 at our organization. This year has brought so many families in the Kansas City area together for one cause that helps so many. Throughout the year, we’ve come together as a group to raise not only funds to help us keep moving forward in making a difference, but also raise positive awareness for those with Down Syndrome.

12th Annual Wine Tasting and Auction

Our annual wine tasting and auction was held at Shook Hardy and Bacon LLP this year in April and couldn’t have been more fun! The event had a wonderful turnout of over 400 supporters. We enjoyed wine tasting and auctioned bottles of wine throughout the event and raised $291,000 through our efforts! Not a bad way to start off the year for FDFDS!

13th Annual Golf Classic and Huddle Time

The Annual Golf Classic and Huddle Time at the Shadow Glen Golf Club this September was a huge success! Between the golfers on the green and the auction participants, who bidded for items like signed Royals and Chiefs gear, we raised over $200,000! We are so thankful to have such amazing supporters turn out for fun events like these that involve everyone in the community.

20th Annual Step Up Walk

Our 20th Annual Step Up Walk was and is a big deal for FDFDS. Over 300 volunteers helped transform a cool, October Saturday into a fun-filled day for all ages. Rock walls, pony rides, and bounce houses were just a few of the fun activities we had going that day. Oh, and we can’t forget the pretty sweet danceoff that happened! The teams, families, and friends who all came out made a huge impact for our organization. We set our goal high in wanting to raise more than any other Step Up Walk in FDFDS history and we achieved it! With the help of hundreds of supporters, volunteers and teams, our event raised $513,000 this year that will go back to helping our community.

Giving Tuesday

This year as part of the spirit of Thanksgiving and the holiday season, we held a #GivingTuesday campaign throughout the end of November and December to encourage advocacy, whether it be financially or socially. Sharing the stories of the people and organizations intimately involved with FDFDS was a heartwarming reminder of why we do what we do.

Donation to DSG

All the fantastic people who have been involved with us this year and throughout the years will always be what allows us to raise awareness and make a change in our community for the better. We wouldn’t be where we are today without you. To show our appreciation and further help advocate for those with Down syndrome, we donated a record breaking amount of $500,000 to our partners at the Down Syndrome Guild of Greater Kansas City. Their work in the Kansas City area is so impactful and appreciated.

We want to thank each and every supporter of First Downs for Down Syndrome, past, present, and future. Without the continuous support from individuals like you, we wouldn’t be able to help the people and organizations that we do. We hope 2016 will bring with it even more awareness and support for those with Down Syndrome. Happy New Year!

Sam's Holiday Traditions

This February we introduced one of our friends Sam Rogers, who had won the Northman award at his high school, Shawnee Mission North. Fast forward to today, and Sam has moved on to even more fun and exciting achievements in his life since his high school graduation. Though he misses SMN and the wonderful, accepting atmosphere there, he has begun a new chapter of education at the Shawnee Mission Post-High Transition Program which is based out of the Shawnee Mission South High School.

Sam joined SM’s 3 year post-transition program which focuses on a variety of subjects all geared toward independent living, from keeping a checkbook to practicing professional writing. He also works at the Chuck E. Cheese every afternoon through the program to gain valuable work experience. He is eligible to attend this amazing post-high program for 3 years till he graduates at 21.

But that’s not all Sam has been up to! He is also attending Johnson County Community College’s CLEAR program. The College Learning Experiences, Activities and Resources, or CLEAR, is a program that provides adults with developmental disabilities experiences in continuing education in several different 7-week courses of their choice. At JCCC, Sam took a class on decision making and problem solving and a class on financial management. About his classes, Sam said,”I like going to JCCC and taking college classes. They are the best!!  I get to see other friends that went to other high schools at college.”

When Sam isn’t in class, he participates with the Down Syndrome Guild’s adult group, where he can attend activities and events with the friends he’s made over the years. He also still loves attending SM North football and basketball games with his family!

As much as he loves his programs and classes, Sam is ready for Christmas break! He says he’s looking forward to hanging out with his sister and brother-in-law, Jennifer and Brock, every day during break since they are both teachers and won’t be in session. One of the holiday traditions Sam loves is making pumpkin flavored puppy chow and bringing it to his granny’s every Christmas Eve. Sam and his family also have fun watching Christmas movies every year as well as doing their advent calendars to countdown the days till Christmas. This year, they have two; one on their fridge and one with treats for their dogs!

Christmas is one of Sam’s favorite times of the years. “I love everything about Christmas, all the decorations and driving around looking at Christmas lights on people's houses. This year I helped Mom put up a small tree in my room with Marvel and Star Wars ornaments on it!! I love it. I also have a [Shawnee Mission] North tree too that is red and black.  I also helped her put up our big tree and helped put ornaments on it too.”

We’re so happy to have an awesome kid like Sam as part of our family at FDFDS, and we can’t wait to see what’s next for him!